This is outright wrong. At some point one side outperforms, or "in universe(a la Cold War)" outspends/demoralizes the other and there is victory - aka, control

This is outright wrong. At some point one side outperforms, or "in universe(a la Cold War)" outspends/demoralizes the other and there is victory - aka, control of the global financial markets and geo-political dominance. Is it a net win for humanity? Having stockpiles of nukes isn't. The space, science, athletic, and social welfare race is. Competition drives progress. Hegemony leads to stagnation.